Foreigners recite poems in mother tongue at Cox’s Bazar Shaheed Minar

Ten foreign nationals have recited poems in their own languages at Shaheed Minar premises in Cox’s Bazar after paying tributes to language martyrs with flowers.

Such a scene was seen at the premises of the district's first Shaheed Minar built at the gate of Cox's Bazar Government High School on Friday (February 21) morning.

These foreign nationals are from 10 countries including Japan, Colombia, the Philippines, Kenya, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, and Syria.

All of them are working with various international organisations in Cox's Bazar. On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, the Cox's Bazar Government High School Alumni Association organised this poetry reciting session.

Expressing her feelings at the event titled ‘Sardhoshotoke Ekusher Droho’, Japanese citizen Machiko Fukumara said, “It is a great pleasure to be able to speak in my own language. Seeing this school reminded me of my own school and my childhood. On International Mother Language Day, I am remembering my country, home, loved ones and my own language.”

Nigerian citizen Hawa Hassan said, “The people of Bangladesh are very sincere. Thanks to this initiative, we, people speaking different languages, have been able to sit in one place and remember the language martyrs together, it is a great joy.”

Helen, a citizen of the Philippines, said, “The freedom to speak in one's mother tongue is a very big thing. It is a great joy. It would not be right to forget those who gave their blood and became martyrs for the language. I am very happy to be able to celebrate International Mother Language Day on the premises of Shaheed Minar.”

MM Sirajul Islam, convener of the the Alumni Association, told the media, "This event has been organised with foreigners in the continuation of the glorious 150th anniversary of the school. Cox's Bazar is now internationally important in many ways, including geographically. Thousands of foreign citizens are staying here due to the establishment of Rohingya refugee camps. It is a great joy to celebrate International Mother Language Day with them."